The Time Element
is Here!  
                                                                    By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                    November 1, 2019
     "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that whiich shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
     Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new?  It hath been already of old time, which was before us."
                                                            Ecclesiastes 1:9-10
Introduction
     History does repeat itself!  This is demonstrated in God's Word over and over again.  Yet few are looking for it when they read the Word, and so few find it.   Study carefully.......
Saul of Tarsus
     Saul was a prominent Jewish leader, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, Acts 23:6.  As such he hated and persecuted the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It appears that he was the main persecutor of Stephen, and was responsible for his death, Acts 6:8-15; 7:1-60; 8:1-4.  It was also Saul who raised a great persecution against the Lord's church in Jerusalem, scattering the church throughout "Judaea and Samaria," Acts 8:1.  
     At some point after Saul had met the Lord face to face, his name was changed to Paul, and he became an Apostle of the Lord.  In looking back on the days when he was the persecutor of the Lord's church and people, Paul apparently was very sorrowful about what he had done in the past, and indicated it by saying, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acception, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief," 1 Timothy 1:12-16.  
     Any careful study of the life of Saul of Tarsus, later the Apostle Paul, will reveal that Paul was a type of the entire nation and people of Israel.  Now let's look at.....
The Salvation of Saul
     The salvation experience  of Saul is recorded in Acts 9, and begins with this statement, "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
     And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogue, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem," Acts 9:1-2.  
     Wow!  What a revelation!  Especially in view of what is happening today as I write.  Saul was literally seething with hatred for the disciples of the Lord Jesus; Christianity and Christian  people.  
     So is it just "coincidence" that the religious Jews today are still seething with hatred for Christ and for Christianity?  The whole nation and people of Israel are pitted against anyone and anything that upholds or represents the Lord Jesus Christ and His followers.  
     Notice also that it was while Saul was on the road to Damascus, that he came face to face with the Lord Jesus Christ?  So is it just "coincidence" that the armies of the nation of Israel are on the road to Damascus even as I write?  Think about it!  
The City of Damascus
     This is one of the oldest continually existent cities in the world today.  In fact, it may be the oldest.  This city was already in existence in the days of Abraham, some 4,000 years ago.  See Genesis 14:15 and 15:2.  
     Throughout history Syria has been an enemy of Israel, and a number of wars, or battles, have occurred in the past between the two peoples. This can be verified by studying the history of Israel as recorded in the inspired Word of God.  
     Is it then just "coincidence" that a war is going on in Syria today, and that Israel is very much involved in that war?  Is it just "coincidence" that the inspired Word clearly predicts the total destruction of this 4,000 plus year old city?  Isaiah 17:1.  Is it just "coincidence" that Israel has the nuclear capability of totally destroying Damascus, and may very well do so during the war that is going on right now as I write?  
The End Result of This Present War
     It will not happen immediately, for a careful study of the prophecies reveals exactly how and when Israel as a nation and people is going to come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  But the war in the Middle East, clearly involving Israel and Syria, marks the beginning of the salvation of Israel and the Jewish people.  We are here!  This is the "time element" we are living in right now.  The salvation of Saul typified what is happening with Israel right now in the Middle East.  
Saul's Experience
     Our readers should notice that in the salvation experience of Saul, there was first a light from heaven that "shined round about him," Acts 9:3. It is not just "coincidence" that Christ Himself is "the light of the world," John 8:12; 9:5.   
     Then the voice of the Lord spoke to him, asking him why he was persecuting the Lord? Acts 9:4.   Read Matthew 10:25; 10:40.                                                                                    
     Saul's response was to ask the voice to identify Himself, and the Lord responded by telling Saul explicitly who He was, Acts 9:5.  The Lord also told Saul that it was hard for Saul to "kick against the pricks."  In other words, the Holy Spirit of God was convicting Saul, that his persecution of the Lord's church and people was just not right, John 16:8-11.
     Again, is it just "coincidence" that more of the Jewish people are rejecting their Judaism and receiving Christ as their Messiah and Savior today, than ever before since the First Coming of Christ?  Glory to God!  Praise the Lord!  
     Is it just "coincidence" that the Lord God Himself has said in His inspired Word, that at some point in the NEAR future, He will meet with His Jewish people, and will "plead" with them  "face to face" just like He pleaded with Saul, Ezekiel 20:33-36.  Oh, glory to God!  
      Saul's Response
     There, on that day when Saul was on the road to Damascus, he surrendered his whole heart, mind, body, soul, and life to the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving Christ whom he had so bitterly persecuted, as his Messiah and his Savior., Acts 9.   After the "scales" had been removed from his eyes, he was baptized as a public confession that he had become "a Christian believer," Acts 9:18.  But then leaving Damascus he began preaching Christ in the Jewish "synagogues" all over Israel and the Middle East, Acts 9:20.  Then from there he carried the gospel to the Gentiles, Acts 9:15.  Oh, glory to God.  Thank God for the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul.  
     Is it just "coincidence" that the prophetic Scriptures reveal that the whole nation and people of Israel will become a blessing to all of the Gentile nations and peoples on the earth' after their conversion to Christ?  Glory to God!  Praise the Lord!
Conclusion
     Dear readers, we who are true believers will not be here to see the conversion of the whole nation and people of Israel, for we are very SOON going to be raptured out of this present evil world, Galatians 6:4; 1 Thess. 4:13-18.  But the Lord God has graciously let us see the beginning, which will ultimately lead to the conversion of the nation and people of Israel.
      We are here!  We have arrived!  Israel, just like Saul of Tarsus, is on the road to Damascus today.  And just as surely as we are seeing the beginning of Israel's conversion experience being played out right before our eyes, in the present events occurring in the Middle East,  the Lord God will bring to an ultimate conclusion what He has began.  Oh, Glory to God!
What a mighty God we believers serve.   Praise the Lord!  
     Is every reader READY to meet the Lord as described in 1 Thess. 4:13-18?  All the "signs" indicating the SOON coming resurrection and rapture are here, right along with the "sign" of Israel being on the road to Damascus.  Are you READY?   
     If there is any doubt, then read 2 Peter 1:10-11, go to the Lord in humble and sincere prayer, and make your calling and election sure.  
     And may our gracious God and Savior add His blessings to this study is my earnest prayer.
<<<<<<<       O       >>>>>>>  
    The inspired Word explicitly instructs God's people to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem," Psalm 122:6.  Mankind upon the earth will never know "peace on earth" until Israel has made their peace with God.  
<<<<<<<       O       >>>>>>>         
 

 .